Injured soldiers learn to dive thanks to SUDS

[Steve SDI/TDI HQ]

Six wounded US soldiers will be traveling to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to complete their open water checkout dives at the end of January, thanks to the volunteer work of members and contributors to the SUDS (Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba) program.

SUDS works with severely injured soldiers who received their injuries while serving their county in world hot spots such as Iraq and Afghanistan. The program is based and run from Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) in Washington, DC. SUDS was developed to challenge and reward wounded soldiers. The program is structured to help them to rebuild their confidence and offers an adventurous sport beneficial to their recovery. And of course, SCUBA diving is an active and fun sport these newly certified divers can enjoy for a lifetime.

The current SUDS program to Cuba is a joint effort involving Disabled Sports USA, SUDS, GTMO (Guantanamo Bay, U.S. Naval Base), SDI (Scuba Diving International) and various private donors. The trip will be led by SDI instructors & divemasters. The next SUDS trip after this will be to Key Largo, FL in May of 2008.

SUDS is a 501c 3 not-for-profit organization. To find out more or to make a contribution, visit SUDS Diving Home.

For information about SDI training, contact International Training at (207) 729-4201 or on the web at International Training :: Home ::. Scuba Diving International (SDI) is the sport diving certification branch of the world’s largest technical diving agency, Technical Diving International (TDI). Also included is Emergency Response Diving International (ERDI), the only global public safety certification agency.

Others follow… SDI leads!

 

[Couv]

Six wounded US soldiers will be traveling to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to complete their open water checkout dives at the end of January, thanks to the volunteer work of members and contributors to the SUDS (Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba) program.

SUDS works with severely injured soldiers who received their injuries while serving their county in world hot spots such as Iraq and Afghanistan. The program is based and run from Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) in Washington, DC. SUDS was developed to challenge and reward wounded soldiers. The program is structured to help them to rebuild their confidence and offers an adventurous sport beneficial to their recovery. And of course, SCUBA diving is an active and fun sport these newly certified divers can enjoy for a lifetime.

The current SUDS program to Cuba is a joint effort involving Disabled Sports USA, SUDS, GTMO (Guantanamo Bay, U.S. Naval Base), SDI (Scuba Diving International) and various private donors. The trip will be led by SDI instructors & divemasters. The next SUDS trip after this will be to Key Largo, FL in May of 2008.

SUDS is a 501c 3 not-for-profit organization. To find out more or to make a contribution, visit SUDS Diving Home.

For information about SDI training, contact International Training at (207) 729-4201 or on the web at International Training :: Home ::. Scuba Diving International (SDI) is the sport diving certification branch of the world’s largest technical diving agency, Technical Diving International (TDI). Also included is Emergency Response Diving International (ERDI), the only global public safety certification agency.

Others follow… SDI leads!

Thank you and God Bless for looking after the heros who look after us.

couv

 

[gmhicks5867]

Another organization that does this is Diveheart in Downers Grove, IL. They have a program called Diveheart Military Wounded (DMW) and work with any disabled veteran that is interested in the program.

You can find out more about their program at The DiveHeart Foundation - Home and click on the link for the Diveheart Military Wounded for more information.

Gary Hicks
SDI Instructor 10924
HSA Instructor I-2421

 

[Steve SDI/TDI HQ]

Another organization that does this is Diveheart in Downers Grove, IL. They have a program called Diveheart Military Wounded (DMW) and work with any disabled veteran that is interested in the program.

You can find out more about their program at The DiveHeart Foundation - Home and click on the link for the Diveheart Military Wounded for more information.

Gary Hicks
SDI Instructor 10924
HSA Instructor I-2421

Thanks for the info Gary... I'll check them out.

 

[shoredivr]

Good thread, thanks for the info.

 

[WetDawg]

I would be happy to donate my time to this worthy cause. Who do I need to get in touch with to get something going here in the Fort Lauderdal area?

 

[gmhicks5867]

WetDawg,

Are you looking at something for just yourself, or do you have a group of instructors/divemasters/buddies that your thinking of setting up a complete program with?

I know Diveheart run training programs for facilities across the globe, not just in the US and if there is a large enough group then they would come to your location to do the training. No the course director and president of DiveHeart can currently only certify instructors for HSA but he is going to the SDI IT course in March so could then certify instructors as HSA or Scubility Instructors. Currently he can certify buddies and DMs for Scubility as he is a Scubility/SDI Instructor right now.

If you want more info on their program go to The DiveHeart Foundation - Home or you can PM me and I will get you more information, or connect you with someone that can.

Gary Hicks
SDI OW/Scubility Instructor
HSA Instructor
DiveHeart Volunteer

 

[gmhicks5867]

WetDawg and others, just to add some info until I work with the SCUBABOARD staff to get a section in the good causes area, DiveHeart is a non-profit volunteer organization that works to facilitate the disabled to learn to SCUBA as well as provide more awareness with operations and instructors of the needs of disabled divers. The primary mission of the organization is to help other locations start their programs and to help resorts become more accessible to those with special needs.

Gary Hicks

 

[joe27march]

Thanks for the great info on programs for our troops